50 Incredibly Random Facts About Sports Stars

What we know about the biggest stars in sports is largely determined by what they do in a game—by wins, losses and the hardware in their trophy case.

The reality is that the men and women we love to watch on the field, court, track or in whatever place they have in sports, are much more than their jobs.

Granted, they get paid handsomely to do something most people consider recreation, but they grew up idolizing the sports stars who came before them, have goofy hobbies and interests, and personal histories that pull back the curtain.

When we learn more about the person, rather than the athlete, it can be endearing and sometimes disconcerting. Just peruse the virtual TMI playground known as Twitter if you need examples.

The bottom line is that there are plenty of random facts about the biggest sports stars that you don't need to know, but are kind of fun to learn about.

Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has been one of the most intimidating physical forces in the NFL over the last decade, but his gentle demeanor off the field has made him one of the most likable players in the league.

He's known to be a practical joker with his teammates and holds rock paper scissors tournaments in the locker room. Polamalu was a master woodcarver in high school and his hobbies today include fly fishing and orchid cultivation.

If only you could bottle that kind of adorableness and force-feed it to the NFL's many troublemakers. I bet it's impossible to get arrested while cultivating orchids.

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

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Eccentric Bulls center Joakim Noah is known as someone who marches to the beat of his own drummer.

His father was a professional tennis player and his mother was a former Miss Sweden. Noah majored in Anthropology at the University of Florida and is extremely active in a number of charitable causes in Chicago.

He may also be the only player in NBA history to rock a messy bun as his signature 'do.

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

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Heat guard Dwyane Wade was a demonstrated superstar in high school, but it took a while for him to earn some serious respect.

In the balloting for Mr. Basketball (IL) he finished a distant seventh place—notoriously overweight dud Eddy Curry garnered more votes. As a freshman at Marquette, Wade didn't even dress for games, let alone start.

Seems like a lot of people really dropped the ball (see what I did there?) on spotting this Hall-of-Fame talent.

Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins

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During his rookie season, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III showed he was as dynamic a passer at the pro level as he was during his Heisman-winning junior campaign at Baylor. He earned NFL Rookie of the Year honors after throwing for 3,200 yards and running for another 815.

In more evidence that RG3 is some kind of superhuman, he held the office of class president during his senior year at Copperas Cove High School. That waswhile playing football, basketball and running track and field—spectacularly.

Ironically, the only force strong enough to stop this seemingly unstoppable baller is one, slighty orange-faced man with an apparent skepticism of a knee ligament's value.

Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons

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Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez has long been considered one of the greatest to ever play the position.

He and the Chargers' Antonio Gates have been the two most dominating tight ends in the NFL for over a decade. Yet for all of his many accomplishments in what is assuredly a Hall-of-Fame career, Gonzalez didn't win a single playoff game until 2013—when his Falcons came up just short of the Super Bowl.

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

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Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane was chosen No. 1 overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He was just the sixth American player in history to be chosen first, joining the ranks of players such as Mike Modano and Rick DiPietro.

Kane is a study in contradictions. His favorite color is black and his father used to spray paint his hockey gear black as a child. Yet he often played dolls with his sisters in an effort to convince them to play sports with him.

I probably wouldn't bring up that dolls thing if you ever have the opportunity to meet him though.

Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi played his first game in La Liga in 2004. At the time he was just 17 years old, making him the youngest player ever to start a game in the league.

But the career of the world's greatest footballer almost didn't happen. Messi was diagnosed with a hormone deficiency at the age of 11 and his family was unable to afford the full extent of the required treatment.

If his father would've been unable to get his employers and local businesses to sponsor the cost of the treatment, it is speculated that Messi would've stood just 4'7 (approximately).

Literal tragedy averted. Football without Messi isn't football at all. Sorry, Cristiano.

Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

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Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk passed the great Nikolas Lidstrom to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer in January, 2007. And in dramatic fashion too! He scored an impressive five points in a game against the Coyotes.

Datsyuk's (you can also call him Pavs, Dats or Moves) hobbies outside of hockey are mostly of the athletic variety. He enjoys a leisurely day of fishing and also likes to play tennis, soccer, billiards and golf.

He's probably amazing at all of them too. Never accept a "friendly" competitive wager from Pavel Datsyuk, he's probably just trying to scam you.

Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

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It didn't take Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia long to make history in the major leagues. In 2007, he and teammate Jacoby Ellsbury were the first rookies in MLB history to bat 1-2 in a World Series lineup.

No wonder he batted at the top of the lineup—that season he set a record for rookie second baseman by batting .317 for the season. Pedroia bested the record set by the Pirates Jim Voix in 1913.

And the hits just keep coming for the Pirates, they are truly the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball.